Note: This post contains many pictures, I have reduced their size to avoid issues with loading of the page or excessive data usage. You can see all the pictures in better quality at this link.
Update, 2 June 2018: Part 2 is Live, scroll to the end to get to it!
I was born and brought up in India, mainly in the central region, hence I had never seen extreme winter season (snow, freezing rain, sleet, high winds, etc.) in my lifetime. When I moved to Chicago in 2016, many people tried to scare me by sharing their experiences of Chicago Winter. Now I feel that was a bit of overselling, but I have witnessed winter season only twice here, so who am I to judge! Anyway, I don’t know about past winters but I can surely say this, this year’s winter was more wintry than last year.
Around the start of this Winter, I moved near the city, so I had easy access to downtown Chicago, main attractions, lake-shore via the famous Chicago ‘L’. As I am a ‘9 to 6’ job person, it was not possible for me to get out everyday and ‘enjoy’ the winter in city, so I decided to explore the winter on weekends.
Okay, enough talking, it’s picture time! If you know me, you must be knowing that I have some interest in photography. You can call me Instagrammer or amateur photographer or any other name that you think of. I have put together some of the pictures I captured with my Nikon D5200 and Pixel 2 XL cameras for days when I went out with Chicago winter! They are categorized by dates captured, this is Part 1 and Part 2 is coming soon!
3 December 2017
After moving near to the city my plan was to get my first sunrise photo from the lake shore. By the time I reached lake shore, the Sun was already up, but still managed to get some pictures, this was the last weekend before the Snow started. Weather was quite nice, it was chilly, but it was not windy.
The Famous Bean at Millennium Park. 
Chicago loop area on a Sunday morning! 
Captured from Lakeshore area 
Captured from Lakeshore area 
One fine Chicago Morning before winter started 
Somewhere near to Michigan lakeshore in Chicago loop.
9 December 2017
This was the day (as far as I remember) when it all started, first snow of the season. It was a Saturday and I planned to visit the most-common tourist place in Chicago, Millennium Park. There was not much snow, but it certainly gave a feeling of Winter.
The Nichols Bridgeway, it was closed most of the time during winter, on this day it was open and I could capture this picture. 
The Nichols Bridgeway, it was closed most of the time during winter, on this day it was open and I could capture this picture. 
Road condition with little snow, captured with amazing Pixel 2 XL 
Summer Party place covered with snow!
11 December 2017
The floor in my office building where I work is completely closed with artificial windows and yellow light bulbs behind them, no exposure to outside world. It may be raining, snowing or sunshine outside, but it’s always sunny inside! I was quite surprised to witness this after I left office in the evening.
Usual day at office that ended with warm feeling of snow!
Captured while waiting for bus at a CTA station. 
Snowfall under a tree.
19 December 2017
While there was no snow after first few days, it was certainly very windy and chilly, specially in lake-shore areas. Temperature was below freezing point. Sun was hidden somewhere in galaxy, even when it showed up, was not much effective. I was trying to get used it by roaming outside more often.
Entry to the beach, clicked with amazing Pixel 2 XL 
View from North Avenue Beach, Chicago 
View from North Avenue Beach, Chicago 
Awesome evening, some experiments with editing.
24, 25 December 2017
Christmas time! It was snowing good on these days. I did not take much pictures, here are couple of them.
I wonder how they keep these tracks clean for the trains during this much snow. 
Snowfall on lawn
31 December 2017
By this time, I had realized that this winter is going to be more wintry than last year. It had snowed in past few days which was measurable in few inches. Outside temperature was below 0o F (-17o C). Few social media pictures and one of my senior’s earlier evening’s trip to lake-shore inspired me to visit the same in the bone-chilling last morning of the year. It was a quite an experience, even with multiple layers of clothing, it was difficult to keep hands steady and take pictures. Somehow I managed to get the ones below.
The Frozen Lake, clicked on the way to Navy Pier from Lakeshore drive 
These yellow lights were the only source of heat during -25 Degree centigrade temperature at 6:45 AM. 
These yellow lights were the only source of heat during -25 Degree centigrade temperature at 6:45 AM. 
The Frozen Lake, clicked on the way to Navy Pier from Lakeshore drive 
The Frozen Lake, clicked on the way to Navy Pier from Lakeshore drive 
The Frozen Lake, clicked on the way to Navy Pier from Lakeshore drive
13, 14, 15 January 2018
Most people were travelling to warmer cities during this long weekend (about which I came to know on 12th), I stayed in Chicago to witness something astonishing. The snow had taken a break for few days but as the temperature was quite below freezing for 15+ days the snow turned into ice in places where it was not removed on time.
The lake-shore area near Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium was completely covered with slippery ice, one wrong step and there are chances that you will hurt yourself badly.
Slippery lakeshore walk and what’s with those plants? 
Slippery lakeshore walk 
Towards the Lakefront 
Towards the Lakefront 
This is natural! 
This is a Natural Phenomenon! 
This is a Natural Phenomenon! 
This is a Natural Phenomenon! 
Slippery lakefront near Shedd Aquarium, one wrong step and you are in freezing water! 
The not so frozen lake! 
Slippery lakefront near Shedd Aquarium, one wrong step and you are in freezing water!
The next day, 14th January, I decided to visit Chicago Riverwalk. The lake was frozen, at-least the top layer of it.
Lakefront during winter 
Symmetry 
Lakefront during winter 
There is Ice under the bridge! 
The upper layer of the lake is frozen but water movement keeps it liquid state. 
Lakefront during winter. 
A boat stuck (read ‘parked’) in frozen water! 
Chicago Riverwalk during winter 
Chicago Riverwalk during winter
On 15th, I visited the same place. It had snowed earlier night, so the scene was little bit different.
Snow bean 
Where’s Water! 
Snow way! 
Perfectly balanced, as all things should be! 
Foggy weather in Chicago loop. 
Clicked near the Riverwalk area in Chicago loop. 
Clicked near the Riverwalk area in Chicago loop. 
People are jogging even in snow! 
A person working hard to remove the snow for pedestrians. 
A person working hard to remove the snow for pedestrians. 
Okay, so looks like we have covered half winter here and I still have more pictures to show off. This post is already long, better we’ll continue in next one.
We will return in Part 2, Watch this space for more!
Part 2 Teaser
Update, 2 June 2018: Part 2 is here, check it out!